Is Northern Cyprus a potential new location for British expats?

Could North Cyprus become a popular destination for Brit retirees and expat professionals?

Would-be expats keen to move to Cyprus inevitably think of the island as British through and through, forgetting that the north of the island is as Turkish as the south is Greek. Attempts to bring the two halves together again following Turkey’s failed invasion began 45 years ago, but both Brits and Turks seem unable to reconcile their differences. However, since Brexit became a fact of life, the North’s PM is hoping the UK’s departure from the EU would make the task easier.

Formerly, EU member states Cyprus and Greece would have been able to block any serious attempts at reconciliation with a veto. Northern PM Ersin Tatar supports a two-state solution and is keen to start direct flights to North Cyprus from London, saying the move would boost the sector’s flagging economy via tourism and increased business as well as supporting the considerable number of British expats already living in the north. Emphasising the difference between the two halves by stating the obvious, he cited the two languages and religions dividing the island down the middle but didn’t mention the south’s successful banking businesses.

As regards the potential for British expat retirees of a united or at least better connected north/south divide, one advantage of the north for cash-strapped Brits can be seen in the two halves’ comparative salaries. Average income in the Greek half is £25,000, with just £15,000 in the north, a considerable difference resulting in the north’s cost of living being far lower than its neighbour’s.